By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Section 194 inquiry into suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office has rejected her latest bid to postpone its proceedings.
Mkhwebane has requested that the impeachment inquiry be deferred to next week Monday in order for her lawyers to be present during its proceedings.
The suspended public protector confirmed to the inquiry on Monday her lawyers from Seanego Attorneys had not withdrawn from representing her after she was given time to consult with them.
“Due to resultant confusion, misunderstanding, and deliberate misinterpretation of what was explained, I was left in a position where the committee needed to know whether or not the legal representatives were intending to withdraw as incorrectly asserted by others… as far the attorneys are concerned… I can confirm that they have not withdrawn.
“They are still my attorneys of choice, Seanego Attorneys, and I have instructed them to write a separate letter to the committee. And I hope, once and for all, that clarifies the position, which remains unchanged,” she said.
Mkhwebane then proceeded to ask for a postponement of the inquiry’s proceedings after she told MPs her lawyers were unavailable this week due to other commitments they were attending to.
She insisted that it was her constitutional right to have her lawyers present during the inquiry’s processes.
“I’m very much concerned chairperson to proceed without my legal representation,” she said.
Committee chair Qubudile Dyantyi ruled that the proceedings of the impeachment inquiry would continue for Monday and Tuesday with the hearing of evidence from a senior manager for legal services in the Office of the Public Protector, Cornelius van der Merwe.
“Quite clearly, on Friday the committee concluded in its deliberations, as part of the decisions it has taken, that today [Monday] we are going to resume.
“And central to that resumption was the issue of putting on the stand the last witness… the resolution we took on Friday must be proceeded with,” Dyantyi said.
The inquiry chair ordered a representative from Seanego Attorneys, who joined Monday’s proceedings virtually, to remain online.
Livestream Video Below:
Video Courtesy of Parliament.